The Honeywood Files Read Online Free PDF Page B

applicable subscription is “I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,” or where, as in Smith’s case, the writer feels that “Dear Sir” trespasses on familiarity. Twenty years ago things were perhaps different, but broadly speaking, no British subject has any right to address another in the tone of frigid, contemptuous resentment Spinlove adopts; and if he does so he will rightly suffer.
    SPINLOVE TO REAKER & SMITH
    Sirs,22.4.24.
    I have received your letter and need only say in reply that your view of the facts is untenable.
    The amount of your account, returned herewith, is excessive and out of all reason. When the total has been substantially reduced and is supported by a detailed measured or day-work statement with vouchers I will consider it. The account is to be made out to Sir Leslie Brash, Zimmon Gardens, S.W.3, and not to me.
    Yours faithfully,
    BRASH TO SPINLOVE
    Dear Mr. Spinlove,22.4.24.
    In view of the trend of your communication, and although I am of opinion that your organization should have prevented the accident, I consider it desirable that I should intimate to you that as I have not hitherto put the blame for the damage to my daughter’s mare upon you it was not necessary for you to seek to defend yourself by fixing the responsibility on my shoulders. If, however, it had been necessary, permit me to indicate that in one sentence you asseverate it was the clear duty of the builder to cover the holes, and in the next but one that the obligation to do so did not eventuate.
    I suggest to you that this subject should now be permitted to terminate, but I feel it desirable to remind you that I was not previously informed that pits were being dug and that no instructions were given to protectively cover them until after the neglect to do so had involved me—as I regret to fear—in the loss of a valuable hunter; and also to elucidate to you that I regard the proper carrying out of instructions—and not merely the appropriate issuing of them—as the duty of all persons I employ whether as architects or in other capacities. I shall be obliged if you will intimate to me that you accept this interpretation of your obligations.
    Believe me,
    Yours sincerely,
     
    The stately creature! It is a devastating but not an unfriendly letter. On the contrary, it is evident that Brash likes Spinlove and respects his capacities. Such a letter could only be written, and tolerated, when addressed to a man young in years and experience by one mature in both. We may also imagine that Spinlove’s personality is frank and boyish, and that this and his youth perhaps serve him well at this juncture; for Brash has ample grounds for feeling extremely annoyed and dissatisfied with his architect, and if that architect were not amenable to this kind of discipline, his employer might well decide to be quit of him before worse disasters overtake his house-building adventure. Spinlove ought to have let Brash know that the pits were being dug; he ought to have employed a builder whom he knew to be of good standing, and he ought to have ordered the holes to be covered. If he had taken one only of these proper precautions all might have been well.
    SPINLOVE TO BRASH
    Dear Sir Leslie Brash,24.4.24.
    I can only thank you for your letter and say that I accept your view of my obligations, fully and without reserve. Permit me, however, in justification of myself to say that I had no intention of “putting the responsibility on your shoulders,” but wished only to explain how it was that I did not take the necessary precautions.
    Yours sincerely,
     
    This justification of himself by Spinlove is a lame business. He has already said: (1) that it was the clear duty of the builder to protect the holes; (2) that the obligation to do so scarcely arose; (3) that responsibility lies with Brash, since the builder was employed on his recommendation; and now (4) he acknowledges that he himself did not take the precautions which he admits to have been